Seven elderly artists perform shadow play in Shanxi

Seven elderly shadow play artists took a picture in front of the shadow play cultural park in Huazhou district in Shanxi province’s Weinan city on January 11. The average age of performers is nearly 70 years old.

A few bamboo poles, an actor, a set of gongs and drums can support all the characters and plots. Shadow play was included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage by the State Council of the People’s Republic of China in 2006.

Huazhou district has a long history of Chinese operas and shadow plays. And Yingyuan culture development Co. Ltd was founded in Huazhou district and recruited these seven folk artists to organize and act out the traditional shadow play repertoires to show their unique beauty.

Seven elderly shadow play artists took a picture in front of the shadow play cultural park in Huazhou district

As well as the traditional repertoires, they also perform modern shows and self-written shows. These seven artists have performed publicly more than 400 rounds, to a total of more than 60,000 people.

Shadow play artists perform for their audiences in Huazhou district culture park on January 11

Liu hua, a 73-year-old man, performs on January 11 in Huazhou shadow play culture park

Liu, the head of the performing group, started his career at 15.he is regarded as a “walking dictionary ” of shadow play and became the intangible cultural heritage successor of shadow play in 2008.

Wei Xingbao, 75, practices shadow play on January 11

He plays a part called “Qian shou,” which is the major role in shadow play. Characters like emperor and general, intellect and beauty, soldiers and horses are all controlled by his 10 fingers. How well he acts directly affects the quality of the show.

Lv Chongde, 73, plays a part called”Yue Shi,” which means master of singing

“Qian Shou” shows the shadow play on January 11

Children enjoy the shadow play in Huazhou shadow play cultural park on January 11